Watertown Trust donates $5,000 toward Urban Mission campaign

The Watertown Local Development Corp. has agreed to donate $5,000 toward the Watertown Urban Missions capital campaign.

On Mayor Jeffrey E. Grahams recommendation, the WLDC board decided Thursday that it should donate the money, which will be put toward $1.2 million in major renovations to the organizations headquarters at 247 Factory St.

The mayor, who also serves as president of the WLDC board, suggested that the economic development agency should help the economically disadvantaged and said the contribution would give the Urban Mission some moral support.

Members of the WLDC, also known as the Watertown Trust, noted that the renovation project will help the infrastructure of downtown.

The mayor said he appreciates Urban Mission Executive Director Erika F. Flints work as a WLDC board member.

So far, the Watertown Urban Mission has raised about $1.1 million toward its $2 million capital campaign goal and begun looking for community support to close the gap.

Urban Mission officials have said campaign funds will provide basic physical changes to the mission to improve services for thousands of clients each year.

Funding will go toward making improvements to the organizations critical needs department, the Impossible Dream Thrift Store and other interior repairs.

Besides the $1.2 million that would be spent on renovations, $300,000 will go to an endowment program, $240,000 will be allocated to construction contingency, $180,000 will go to construction service fees and $80,000 will be applied to campaign operational expenses.

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